Stokesia Plant Named &#39;Mega Mels&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Stokesia plant named ‘Mega Mels’ which is characterized by the combination of a large plant size, globular habit, large light purple flowers with yellow centers, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2018/1335, filed May 18, 2018, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Stokesia laevis.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Stokesia disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘Mega Mels’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘Mega Mels’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of the seed parent, Stokesia laevis ‘Mels Blue’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,090), with an unnamed Stokesia laevis plant (notpatented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor inApril of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in Rijsbergen, the Netherlands.In August of 2015, one seedling from said cross was observed whichexhibited large, light purple flowers. The seedling was isolated forfurther evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability ofthe characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctnessand stability, ‘Mega Mels’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Mega Mels’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in August of 2015 inRijsbergen, the Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Mega Mels’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Mega Mels’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Mega Mels’ as a new and distinct Stokesia laevis cultivar:

-   -   1. Stokesia ‘Mega Mels’ exhibits a relatively large plant size;        and    -   2. Stokesia ‘Mega Mels’ exhibits a globular plant shape; and    -   3. Stokesia ‘Mega Mels’ exhibits large, light purple flowers        which are conspicuously centered yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, exemplary saleable ‘MegaMels’ plants grown outdoors in 140 mm nursery containers at theinventor's commercial greenhouse in Rijsbergen, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical flowers of ‘MegaMels’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

A detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety ofStokesia plant known as ‘Mega Mels’ is not yet available. A comparisonwith the parents and most similar variety of common knowledge areprovided below.

-   General plant description: Botanical description is not yet    available.-   Root system: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Stem: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Foliage: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Inflorescence: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Flower buds: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Flower: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Reproductive organs: Botanical description is not yet available.-   Seed and fruit: Botanical description is not yet available.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mega Mels’ differ from its parent, Stokesialaevis ‘Mels Blue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,090), by the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Mega Mels’ ‘Mels Blue’ Plant height. Taller thanShorter than ‘Mels Blue’. ‘Mega Mels’. General coloration Light purpleand Dark purple. of the flower. lightly suffused Flowers are with pink.inconspicuously Flowers are centered yellow. conspicuously centeredyellow.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mega Mels’ differ from its pollen parent, anunnamed Stokesia laevis plant (not patented), by the characteristicsdescribed in Chart 2.

CHART 2 Characteristic ‘Mega Mels’ The pollen parent Abundance of Moreabundant. Less abundant. foliage. Foliage thickness. Thicker than theThinner than pollen parent. ‘Mega Mels’. General Lighter green. Darkergreen. coloration of mature foliage. Floriferousness. More flowers Fewerflowers per plant. per plant. Abundance of More abundant. Less abundant.involucral bracts.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mega Mels’ may be distinguished from thevariety Stokesia laevis ‘Mini Mels’ (an application for which is beingfiled concurrently with the instant plant variety) by the combination ofcharacteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Mega Mels’ ‘Mini Mels’ Floriferousness. Fewerflowers More flowers per plant. per plant. Flower size. Larger thanSmaller than ‘Mini Mels’. ‘Mega Mels’. Abundance of More abundant. Lessabundant. involucral bracts. Attitude of More relaxed. More upright.involucral bracts. General coloration Light purple and Dark purple; ofthe flower. lightly suffused conspicuously with pink; centered lighterinconspicuously yellow. centered yellow.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Stokesiaplant named ‘Mega Mels’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.